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2K Games has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at 31st Union, which is currently developing the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as this innovative game.

Leadership Shift Follows Poor Response

The new appointee takes on the leadership position at the development studio following the exit of former leader Michael Condrey, who was reportedly let go due to the game's underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this organizational change through an official communication, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the need for a more defined game identity.

The president expressed that the developers is now reimagining the project with a revised focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

Trend of Strategic Hires

This announcement follows a comparable move taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to assist with the BioShock development group.

Here is the entire text from Ismailer's communication:

Team—

I know you all just wrapped up your meeting - I trust you’re as excited as I am with the recent updates. Last time I shared you all a note, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and talented developers we have had the chance to partner with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to endure.”

With your dedication and versatility, particularly over the last year, you consistently demonstrate that.

The player input from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was enlightening. It confirmed the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had improvements to make. It highlighted the necessity for a more distinct brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You embraced the criticism to heart and reimagined the title with a renewed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our fans.

The trust in this project grows every day. To further the remarkable development you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce Ben Brinkman as the latest Director of the team. Following a period of talks, Ben officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having spent the recent years producing and leading some of the most well-known series in gaming, for example the acclaimed shooter, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

I invite you all in receiving him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist witnessing the progress of Project ETHOS in the time to follow.

David

Background of the New Head

Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse production roles on the iconic franchise series, and, before that, had periods at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union described the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person action-packed experience and an innovative step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Challenge the opponents with fresh skills, stakes, and challenges that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your valuable rewards? Alternatively go big, gamble everything, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos lacks an confirmed launch window or supported systems, but fans can look forward to further news as development continues.